Lab & Street Proven Handgun Loadings

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 1:59 pm

Thought this was good info, although some of these loads are difficult to obtain.

"Here is a list of handgun loadings that have worked effectively for the LE Officers who depended upon them that have also tested very well in the laboratory:

9mm-
Federal 135gr LE9T5
Remington 147gr Golden Saber
Speer Gold Dot 124gr+P
Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ RA9TA
Winchester Ranger 147gr RA9T

.40S&W-
Federal 180gr LE40T1
Remington 165gr Golden Saber BJHP
Speer 180gr Gold Dot
Winchester Ranger 165gr RA40TA
Winchester Ranger 165gr RA401P
Winchester Ranger 180gr RA40T

.357 Sig-
Speer 125gr Gold Dot
Winchester Ranger 125gr RA357T

.45acp-
Corbon 230gr+P jhp
Federal [Tactical] 230gr LE45T1+P
Remington 230gr Golden Saber BJHP
Speer 230gr Gold Dot
Winchester Ranger 230gr RA45T
Winchester Ranger 230gr RA45TP +P

Just because a given loading that tests well is not listed does not mean that it is not a good loading just that this is a listing of loadings that tested well with officer involved shooting data for them."

http://www.ammolab.myhomepage.com/page/page/1616971.htm

tex45acp · Post by **tex45acp** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 2:49 pm

Paladin,

Thanks for the info. We can all benefit from it. I do have a question though, do you know what barrel lengths were used for the individual calibers tested???

I for one use a short (3 1/2") barreled 1911 style pistol for my CCW and I am looking for a load that will reliably expand/penetrate for this type of gun. I have the gun loaded with a load I have used for years in my longer barreled 1911 and other .45acp guns. Federal Hydrashoks 230gr. They are accurate and hopefully expanding efficiently to deliver their terminal energy to the target.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:21 pm

Good point. Generally I believe these tests are run from a ~4 or 5 inch barrel.

Test results for 45 ACP Federal 230gr Hydra-Shok JHP out of a 3.8inch barrel are here:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/test_da ... hs-g30.htm

Which gives nice results against Bare Gelatin, not as good against Denim Covered Gelatin.

Many(all?) of the loads in my orginal post have specially designed jackets that expand reliably against Denim Covered Gelatin(with the proper length barrel?)

I've seen an advertisement for Winchester Ranger which states:

"Winchester recently added the Ranger "T" series that features a modified SXT bullet, brass primer cup and is loaded to deliver consistent ballistics regardless of barrel length. "

http://www.northwestloading.com/catalog ... cts_id=748

[Note, regardless of what the advertisement says, these became available again as of yesterday...don't know how long their supply will last.]

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:50 pm

The above Remington Golden Saber BJHPs can be found here:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=148328

HighVelocity · Post by **HighVelocity** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 5:07 pm

Hmmmm... I see all my carry ammo listed in every caliber except 40. :?

Speer GD 165gr
Win Silvertip 155gr.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:57 am

Anybody know where the best price (online) for Speer Gold Dots is?

Braden · Post by **Braden** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:31 pm

Paladin wrote:Anybody know where the best price (online) for Speer Gold Dots is?

I've been buying 50 round boxes of Gold Dots from Streicher's for $18 a box (.40 165 gr). There may be a better price out there, but if there is I haven't found it yet.

I generally keep my carry gun loaded with 165 gr. Double Tap Gold Dots. I like getting 1240 fps out of my G22 with a 165 gr. bullet. :D

USMC-COL · Post by **USMC-COL** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:35 pm

Plz visit the Stopping Power website at: http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum, moderated by Evan Marshall, co-autor of the book "Stopping Power". The latest tests on most loads are posted. Corbon DPX appears to be the leader of the pack in most calibers from most guns.

onerifle · Post by **onerifle** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 8:57 pm

Don't want to start a flame war, but I have always found this particular essay enlightening:

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/200 ... tm#page_15

FWIW, I used to be a believer of Marshall and Sanow, until they were debunked. I tend to use what the good folks at AmmoLab have tested under controlled circumstances. I don't believe any LEO has ever experienced a failure to stop with "over-penetrating" ammunition; every failure to stop has either been a direct result of poor shot placement, or under-penetrating ammunition...

I think it's extremely easy for all of us to get caught up in the search for the "magic bullet"- bottom line is, find a recommended duty-grade load, see what works 100% in your gun, is accurate....and then forget the rest, and pratice like hell.!!!

:D

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:05 am

Braden wrote:
Paladin wrote:Anybody know where the best price (online) for Speer Gold Dots is?
I've been buying 50 round boxes of Gold Dots from Streicher's for $18 a box (.40 165 gr). There may be a better price out there, but if there is I haven't found it yet.

Thanks Braden!

I did a little checking and found some decent prices on some of the other Speer loads at MidwayUSA:

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition 9mm Luger +P 124 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition 357 Sig 125 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition 45 ACP 230 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20

dolanp · Post by **dolanp** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:48 am

I bought from these guys once before, they have decent prices as well. Located in Austin.

http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.asp ... EERGOLDDOT

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:33 am

Thanks for the link dolanp! Looks like good prices there.

one eyed fatman · Post by **one eyed fatman** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:02 pm

Anybody know about using these as personal protection ammo. It say' personal protection on the box.

Winchester USA Ammunition 9mm Luger 147 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point.
USA9JHP2.

onerifle · Post by **onerifle** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:45 pm

one eyed fatman wrote:Anybody know about using these as personal protection ammo. It say' personal protection on the box.

Winchester USA Ammunition 9mm Luger 147 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point.
USA9JHP2.

Supposedly Winchester uses odds and ends of whatever components are laying around whenever they do a run of WB PP. Some may have the SXT bullet, some may just have a regular hollowpoint, powders may be different as well. There is zero consistency in components from lot to lot.

I just won't scrimp whan it comes to ammo; I suggest finding a proven performer in a duty grade load and then stick with it. I can't see spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a personal protection handgun, only to save a few dollars on my chosen brand of ammo.

Just my humble opinion, your mileage may vary considerably. :D

Either way, good luck!

MoJo · Post by **MoJo** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:17 pm

According to what I've read, the bullet in the WWB Personal Protection ammo is the same as Silvertip without the silver color. I use the 9mm 115 gr WWBPP and have no qualms about it at all. The specs on the 115 gr loading are identical to the specs on the Winchester Ranger 115 gr standard pressure law enforcement ammo.

The ammunition you use is a very small part of the equation - - - tactics, mindset, and marksmanship make up 90% of what goes into winning a gunfight. Caliber, brand of ammo and brand of gun make up the other 10%.